CO129-585-5 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 3-1-1940 - 25-8-1940 — Page 136

XXX SECRET (2).

55838/34/20

26

136

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

to 30

(27)

m/sh (28)

вору

Sir,

Zerminat

RECEIVED 8 APR 1940

0. O. REGY

27th March, 1940.

With reference to previous correspondence

terminating with your secret despatch of 23rd January,

1940, regarding the temporary agreement with the

Japanese for the navigation of the Pearl River, I

have the honour to report for your information that

on the night of 17th/18th March, 1940, an incident

occurred which illustrates the grave possibilities

of trouble inherent in the present arrangements

under the temporary agreement and emphasises the

desirability of reaching some more regular

arrangements by which ships might come and go

freely between Canton and Hong Kong.

2.

On the arrival of the so-called Japanese

Government chartered vessel S.S. "Shirogane Maru"

in Hong Kong on the evening of 17th March, 1940,

it was reported to the Police that a Chinese

Police Constable of the Hong Kong Police Force,

who was returning from leave in Canton, had been

detained on board by Japanese guards on allegations

of being a spy. None of the ship's officers could

be found to accept any responsibility in the matter

and although the Commissioner of Police undertook to

detain the constable for the fullest investigation,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.,

&C., &C.